Friday 27 April 2012

Another boiling hot day with temperature at about 42⁰C.  We had breakfast at the hotel at about 9am and then caught the tuk tuk.  This guy offered to take us all the way to the river front area where we wanted to go to on condition that we went to a factory that makes clothes.  We knew the trick (but for his sake we agreed as he got free petrol).  At the shop they wanted to get us to have shirts and suits made.  It was tempting and I might still do it as the material is 100% cotton and really look well made & cheap

We got the river boat which was a long tail boat and Dereck and I were the only passengers.  Our ride lasted about 45 minutes and we were taken up the river and into the canals which was very interesting to see how some of the locals live right on the water edge with their house balancing on stilts and kids swimming in the water (which did not look very clean at all) and others fishing.  We got off at the Wat Pho stop and went to the Wat Pho which is a Buddist temple with the largest collection of Buddah’s and is also the home of the famous reclining Buddah.  Again it was absolutely boiling and both dripping with perspiration.

From there we walked back to the river and caught the boat and got off 5 stops further up the river and then walked to Chao San road.  We walked through an alley and found a restaurant called the Chada Café where we had lunch.  I had a tuna salad on fried chips (Thai meal) 

We then headed to Chao San road which is a huge market where you can buy anything and everything.  It is also a place where there are lots of back packers. 

We wanted to see China Town, so we caught a tuk tuk there.  I must say I was rather disappointed (compared to what I saw in San Fransisco) as there was really nothing of interest.

We caught a tck tck again and headed off to the MBK mall which is the busiest mall in Bangkok and is 6 floors high and again where you can buy absolutely everything you should desire.  Eventually at 7:30pm we had supper and then caught a tuk tuk back to our hotel, having been on the go for 10 hours.  I say again that this place does not cool down as even at 8pm we were still dripping with perspiration.  It was good to get back to our hotel to the cool and to relax after an interesting day.

 

Khao San Road